Water adsorption device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for adsorbing water from gas using water adsorption material and a method of adsorbing water from gas.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A water adsorption device comprising:
 a housing having a sealable inlet and a sealable outlet; 
 a container within the housing, the container having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the container communicating with the sealable inlet of the housing and the outlet of the container communicating with the sealable outlet of the housing; 
 a water adsorbing material confined within the container, a gas flow flowing from the sealable inlet of the housing through the container in contact with the water adsorbing material in the container to the sealable outlet of the housing; 
 a heating device disposed in thermal contact with the water adsorbing material or the container, and 
 wherein the housing has at least one wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface at least partly facing the inlet or the outlet of the container, 
 wherein the container and the inner surface of the housing have an emissivity value of not more than 0.5, and 
 wherein the outer surface of the housing has an emissivity value of at least 0.6. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the housing is painted, anodized or coated resulting in an emissivity value of at least 0.7. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is painted black resulting in an emissivity value of at least 0.8. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has an emissivity value of not more than 0.3. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the container has an emissivity value in the range of 0.1-0.05. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface has an emissivity value of not more than 0.3. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the inner surface has an emissivity value in the range of 0.1-0.05. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially made of a non-transparent material. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating device comprises two or more heating elements disposed in direct contact with the water adsorption material. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a convection disturber is disposed in the housing between the container and the inner surface of the housing or on at least one of the inner surfaces of the housing on each side of the container. 
     
     
       11. A method of adsorbing water from a gas, the method comprising:
 providing a device according to  claim 1 ; 
 bringing a gas flow into contact with the water adsorbing material; 
 letting the water adsorbing material adsorb moisture or water from the gas; 
 sealing the housing; 
 heating the water adsorbing material until the space between the container and the inner surface of the housing is saturated with moisture; 
 continuing heating of the water adsorbing material; 
 collecting condensed water; and 
 unsealing of the housing. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the heating is performed using a power of at least 300 W/kg. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the container has an emissivity value of not more than 0.1. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner surface has an emissivity value of not more than 0.1. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the non-transparent material is a metal. 
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the heating is performed using a power of at least 350 W/kg or more. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the heating is performed using a power of at least 400 W/kg or more. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the heating is performed using a power of at least 450 W/kg or more. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the heating is performed using a power of at least 500 W/kg or more.